Senators brace for another possible shutdown in January

Source: The Hill

12/15/25 6:00 AM ET


Senators in both parties are bracing for another government shutdown next year after Republicans blocked a proposal to extend expiring health insurance subsidies, the issue that triggered the 43-day closure that consumed much of the fall calendar. Liberal Democrats in the Senate are fuming that Republicans blocked a proposal to extend the subsidies, which are due to expire in January, through 2028.

A group of eight Democrats, mostly centrists, voted last month to reopen the government in hopes that Republicans might agree to a bipartisan compromise to keep health insurance premiums for people who buy their plans on the ObamaCare marketplace from soaring by double digits.

Instead, the bipartisan talks to extend the subsidies foundered, setting the stage for a massive spike in health care premiums next year. This has given new momentum to liberals to argue that Democrats should use the upcoming Jan. 30 government funding deadline as leverage — just as they did in September and October — to force Republicans to make major concessions on federal health care spending.

After Republicans defeated a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said the next government funding deadline is a leverage point. “The fight is not over,” she said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5647112-republicans-block-subsidy-extension/

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The current C.R. only goes until the end of January, and since the House (which has the power of the purse) is supposed to "originate" funding legislation, but was out of session for almost 2 months thanks to MAGA Mike, they have done little or nothing regarding the other appropriations bills.

The Senate has done some work but they usually end up sticking their versions onto an already-passed House bill to use as a vehicle (since it was waiting for their consideration), doing so as an "Amendment as a Substitute" for the House to vote on.

It's all part of the GOP's inherent inability to govern.